Cupid

Album: The Best Of Sam Cooke (1961)
Charted: 7 17
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Songfacts®:

  • According to Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 songs, Sam Cooke's producers had the idea for him to do a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show. "She didn't do anything but just look up at Perry Como in the most wistful-type manner," said J.W. Alexander, Cooke's business adviser. Cooke decided to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired "Straight to my lover's heart" whenever the song called for it.
  • The arrow sounds were made by backing vocalists Kenneth Simms (leaving the bow) and Bobbie Simms (hitting the target). Kenneth and Bobbie were twins and it was the first time they ever recorded in a studio.
  • In 1969, reggae star Johnny Nash enjoyed a #6 UK hit (#39 in the US) with a cover of this song; it was originally the B-side of his 1968 hit "Hold Me Tight." In 1980 The Spinners (known as The Detroit Spinners in England) reached #4 in both the UK and US with a medley of this and the Michael Zager song "I've Loved You For a Long Time."

Comments: 5

  • Susan Carter from New OrleansSam Cooke was killed at age 33 not 64.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 13th 1961, Sam Cooke played to a 'standing room only' crowd* at the Keil Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri...
    Less than a month later on June 5th, 1961 his "Cupid" would entered the Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at #85; seven weeks later on July 24th, 1961 it would peak at #17 {for 3 weeks} and it spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1957 and 1966 he had forty three Top 100 records; four making the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "You Send Me" for 3 weeks in 1957...
    He just missed having seven Top 10 records when he had three records peak at #11; "Little Red Rooster", "Good News", and "Good Times", and all three records each stayed on the Top 100 for 10 weeks...
    Sam Cooke passed away on December 11th, 1964 at the young age of 64...
    May he R.I.P.
    * Capacity of the Keil Aud in 1961 was 9,300 patrons.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 9th 1969, "Cupid" by Johnny Nash entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and 11 weeks later on January 18th, 1970 it peaked at #39 {for 1 week} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #30 on the Canadian RPM Magazine chart...
    Between 1957 and 1974 he had eleven Top 100 records; two made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "I Can See Clearly Now" for 4 weeks on October 29th, 1972...
    In 1959 he teamed with Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV; and the trio took "The Teen Commandments" to #29 on the Top 100...
    John Lester Nash celebrated his 74th birthday three month ago on August 19th {2014}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyIn 1980 The Spinners coupled his song with 'I've Loved You For A Long Time' and it peaked at No. 4... Johnny Rivers took this song to No. 76 in 1965 and Dawn's 1976 version peaked at No. 22...
  • Mike from Franklin County, PaCupid , in Roman Mythology , was the god of love ; the son of Venus , the goddest of love . In Greek Mythology , he is called Eros . ..According to the myth , Cupid was ordered to shoot an arrow at Psyche to make her fall in love with another man ; but when he laid eyes on her , he was structed by his own love arrow , causing him to fall in love with Psyche . ..Cupid is shown as a boy (sometimes as a child ) in his youth who has wings , and is holing a bow while carrying a basket - like pouch full of arrows that are dipped with a love potion. when the arrows struck a mortal , he or she falls in love .
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